HUNTSVILLE — He wasn’t as prolific as Mozart, have the range of Whitney Houston, the soul of Billie Holliday, or as legendary as Elvis and Michael Jackson, but when it came to music, philosopher Plato probably summed it up best: “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”
That observation will come alive Wednesday when Make Music Day Huntsville hosts a different kind of music festival – one in which every kind of musician, young and old, amateur, and professional and of every musical persuasion – will pour onto streets, parks, plazas, and porches to share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers.
Residents are encouraged to let their talents shine in this community-driven live music celebration all day with 21 concerts across the city.
As a special addition to the festivities, Make Music Day Huntsville has created a special collaboration between the Huntsville Music Office and the Huntsville Hospital Music Therapy Program.
Music is the tool and healing is the goal.
Huntsville Music Officer Matt Mandrella said the partnership is a natural fit because music can be a tool that heals and entertains.
“We’re very proud to align with the Huntsville Hospital Music Therapy Program on this initiative and help raise more awareness to the incredible work they’re doing,” said Mandrella.
Eugene Johnson, the hospital’s Music Therapy Program manager, said the community will be filled from hospital halls to downtown Huntsville with incredible talent and music Wednesday.
“This is an inspiring event that showcases the healing power of music,” he said. “For the third year in a row, Huntsville Hospital’s Music Therapy program has used the global celebration of Make Music Day as a day to bring awareness to the depth of work music therapists provide for our patients and families.”
The program addresses the physical, spiritual, emotional, cognitive and social needs of neonatal, pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients throughout the hospital system.
“Collaborating with the City of Huntsville has only broadened and amplified the message that music therapy has a significant impact on hope and healing in the hospital and in the community,” Johnson said. “From the neonatal ICU to the St. Jude clinic to palliative care, extraordinary care is being provided by our music therapists.”
Launched in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day celebrates on the same day in more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries.
The Make Music Day Huntsville website serves as an online “matchmaking” database for artists and venues. Groups can create accounts and register either as a location interested in hosting a performer or as a performer seeking a venue.
Performers and venues are asked to share Make Music Day Huntsville posts to social media using the hashtags #MakeMusicDay and #MakeMusicDayHSV. Photos and video can also be shared with the Huntsville Music Office through Facebook.
For information, contact the Huntsville Music Office here.
Click here to see a Facebook video.
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